Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The latest creation from Ulysse Nardin brings to mind waves crashing against the immense looming hull of a pirate's ship. Tattered sails whip around in screaming winds as sea farers grip the mast. Ulysse Nardin is a Company with deep ties to the ocean.

This particular model was crafted with Prince Albert of Monaco ,an avid environmentalist, in mind. Prince Albert latest mission is to protect the Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna from overfishing by getting it added to the Endangered Species List.

However the Monaco YS is fiercely black crafted from DLC or Diamond Like Carbon. A coating of DLC can dramatically increase the lifetime of the underlying steel. A dusty rose gold ring surrounds the sub dial below the hands, reminiscent of a life ring thrust out to sea into the flailing arms of the man overboard. Within the ring "Monaco" is branded in a fiery red.

The hands are dipped in gray colored lume which glow in dark adverse conditions. The watch is powered by a UN Caliber 26 automatic Chronometer.

Only 100 pieces of the Ulysse Nardin Monaco YS Marine Diver will be available for purchase.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Is there a luxury watch with a 31 day power reserve? Seeing is believing my friend. Yes there is most certainly a watch with a 31 Day Power Reserve. The A. Lange & Songe Lange 31 watch. To even contemplate such a feat seems only the stuff dreams are made of, but A. Lange & Songe has pushed the limits of watchmaking craftsmanship.
A. Lange & Songe is well known for its precision, and precision was the top priority when crafting this watch. The 744 hours power reserve, as apposed to the usual 45 hours or IWC's 168 hours, is split between two mainspring barrels, thus the power moving through the slowly unwinding springs needs to be perfectly consistent. Too slow would mean minutes loss and too fast would mean minutes gained, disastrous for any watch manufacturer.
The exceptional L034.1 movement achieves a constant force by utilizing a constant force escapement which regulates the torque from the mainspring as it powers the watch. To achieve this perfection, A. Lange & Sohne, spent years testing the finished movement to ensure its reliability over a long period of time.
The Lange 31 watch is delivered with a winding key, which must only be wound once a month. The impressive 31 day power reserve meter is displayed in grand opulence on the watch face. The Lange 31 is available in the rose gold face as depicted above, and in platinum which was released earlier.
This piece has truly impressed the horological community, as this watch embodies perfection. Perfection not from pot luck, but from a unrelenting dedication where less than perfect is out of the question. The years of energy, persistent engagement and ecxeptional expertise utilized to a craft a masterpiece such as this comes with a price. A price above $300,000.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The wait is almost over. The Tag Heuer Monaco V4 debuts in November marking the 150-year anniversary of TAG Heuer, and will and will be produced in a symbolic limited edition of just 150 pieces. But not all will be available at once, seventy-five pieces of the Monaco V4 will be delivered in November 2009, and the remaining seventy-five will be released the in June 2010. Tag Heuer's Monaco V4 was first introduced as a concept watch with no mention of when or if it would become available, but at last, it has made a debut. The Tag Heuer Monaco V4 is priced at $80,000 a piece, the first of which will be auctioned off for charity.

This platinum beauty has an ingenious concept in timekeeping, in fact it is completely reinventing the mechanical movement principle. Getting inspiration from car engines, Tag Heuer replaces the rotating oscillating weight for automatic winding with a platinum ingot, weighing just 4.25 grams which acts as a cylinder of sorts, in a linear movement. This linear movement then transforms power, not to a set of wheels, but to a drive-belt transmission. 13 belts in all with a gauge measure of 0.5 x 0.45mm. Traditional Mechanical Watches utilize rubies to reduce friction, the Tag Heuer V4 uses 2.2 mm diameter bearings with 0.25mm balls rotating inside. In other words the traditional pinions and gear systems have been replaced with belts, and the rubies with ball races. The idea is one of a kind as it combines a unique transmission chain made of belts with a linear ingot to rewind the barrels. The truly amazing thing about this watch is its four barrels and bridges of sapphire that act as energy generators.
The presentation of this watch is the result of months and months of research and craftsmanship. The result is a seriously cool watch with a cool design which will definitely make waves in the horological community.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Chopard Happy Sports has unveiled 11 new watch band colors. Chopard Happy Sports is a hugely popular timepiece first introduced in 1993. The Happy Sport Collection is a spin off from Chopard's Happy Collection, unveiled in 1976 which contains riveting designs and colors. Founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in Sonvilier in the Swiss Jura, Chopard gained the respect of an outstanding watch company. In the 19th century, a precise timekeeper was held in high regard. Chopard became quickly known for its precision so much so that it became the supplier for the Swiss railway.

The Chopard Happy Collection is immediately recognizable by exquisitely cut gems free floating between two sheets of Sapphire crystal above the watch face.

Friday, September 18, 2009

The B for Breitling and the B for Bentley, both have similar winged logos, and both strive for luxurious perfection. The wings are for the freedom whether by cruising down an open road or flying through the air. Breitling became the official supplier to the Royal Air Force, where Breitlings impeccable craftsmanship and exceptional endurance was tested in extreme atmospheric conditions. Bentley and Breitling have the hallmark of prestige and have earned the name of luxury and style.

Breitling has matched Bentley's elegance and class, and has attached Bentley's name to its timepieces to indicate superior quality and design.

The Breitling Bentley Mark IV is a watch with mysterious suave and subtle energy fit for the wrist of a well-dresses spy like say James Bond. In truth the car Bentley Mark IV, the car, was shown in "From Russia With Love", for the first and only time before its replacement by “The Bond Mobile.” The Mark IV is one of the few vehicles to be shown in James Bond movie not equipped with incredible contraptions. It did have a car phone though, something quite unique back in The only real novelty was a car phone, something unbelievable in 1963! A Bentley does not need the frills of gadgetry, it is what it is in all its iconic splendour fit for royalty.

The Breitling timepiece is an automatic chronometer. It is a mechanical watch powered by the gentle swinging motion of ones arm. In addition, the Breitling Bentley Mark IV is a certified chronometer which means the watch has been tested , by the COSC, according to stringent criteria based on ISO 3159 which defines a wrist chronometer with spring-balance oscillator. Only movements that meet the precision criteria are provided with an official chronometer certificate Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. Don't confuse Chronograph with Chronometer these are two completely different aspects pertaining to a timepiece.

Breitling is an exceptional brand with superior standards and that is why all Breitling watches since 2000 are Certified Chronometers something not many brands can attest to.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Image: Kenny Scharf - Time flies and Universal timeMovado has always had a commitment to artists and the arts. In 1987, Movado began the Movado Artist Series which commissions artists to create watches such as Andy Warhol's 'Times/5', a bracelet containing five watch cases each depicting a NYC scene and YaacovAgam's kinetic op-art watch. The latest collection of six colorful watches is created by Kenny Scharf, an artist known for his electric bright colors filled with zany lovable characters and groovy shapes. Scharf, was in Hollywood, California in 1958 and holds a B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Kenny Scharf's creations have been exhibited in museums around the world. Kenny is known to merge pop-culture and fine art. Kenny's art is a mixture of wide humor, exciting depictions and an insight into a world where the boundaries on imagination is infinite.

Image - Blurple Time and Movado Time

Movado has truly made a wise choice when commissioning Kenny. My favorite is the watch with the friendly purple cyclops dot at the 12 'o'clock position.

Image: Starring the Star and Ontime

A play on the Movado museum dial which is one of the most recognizable watch dials in today's horological market. The simplicity of the single gold dot suspended in a sea of black at the 12 'o'clock position is its success. Kenny has utilised the iconic image of Movado's dot and incorporated in his imaginative and fun watch dial. Movado will release six Kenny Scharf limited edition watches of 125 pieces. The first 25 of each piece will be released as a complete set of the six watches. The remaining 100 can be purchased separately. Each watch is powered by a Swiss quartz movement. The dial is protected by a scratch resistant Sapphire crystal and a specially engraved case back. The standard black leather strap will be accompanied by an additional strap to match the motif of the particular watch. The watches will run at about $695 a piece or $3,495 for the full set of six.

Monday, September 14, 2009

This latest men's masterpiece from Dior is pure eye candy. The crimson mineral glass baths the underlying manually wound tourbillon movement in red light. Diamonds dotted with rubies smother the bezel in a lavish display. Diamonds and rubies parade along the stunning bracelet. The hands are simple so as not to mask the beauty that lays beneath. The 42mm case is crafted from white gold. The skeletonization of the dial displays the fine gears and exceptional craftsmanship.
So how much does a beauty like this cost? Well you will have to dig deep into your pockets. At 1.3 million Swiss Francs this watch is quite costly, but if acquired you do get the bragging rights that this exceptional timepiece has been nominated in the awards for the 2009 Geneva Grand Prixd'Horlogerie.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

What has a notebook, pen and wristwatch have in common? Why, GiulianoMazzuoli of course. Born in 1947, GiulianoMazzuoli has worked since the 1970s in the family firm created by his father in 1953 in Florence (Italy).
The company specializes in top of the line stationary especially known for its Stifflexible date book and Moke pen which is based on the shape of the famous Italian Expresso maker.

If you find yourself wandering through the gift shop of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, you will find StifflexibleMoMA Special Edition. These pocket agenda diary is in its eighth edition. Every year the designers for the museum change the cover with new graphics, colors, and materials which many people collect. To date the StifflexibaleMoma Special Edition is the best selling item in the gift shop.

But it is the Moka pen that hurled GiulianoMazzuoli into the realm of horology. Back in 2003, Mazzuoli received an unexpected call from LapoElkann, heir to Agnelli dynasty and the marketing director for Fiat group. Elkann loved the Moka pen and would love to meet the creator. Mazzuoli and Elkann met, but as soon as he saw the first Manometro on Mazzuoli's wrist, the Moka pen was far from his mind. He loved the Manometro and shortly thereafter named GiulianoMazzuoli the official watchmaker of Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo part of the Fiat Group. Mazzuoli owns vintage Alfa Romeo automobiles and is a frequent participant at the MilleMiglia, an Italian endurance race.
What drew Mr Elkann to the Manometro must have been the timepiece's unique sporty look reminiscent of a vintage sports car. The slightly sunk dial is rimmed by a shiny bold bezel like a car dial. The notches on the outer edges give the watch a sense of speed and adventure. The crown is placed above the 2 o' clock position.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The Richville collection by Girard-Perregaux is especially noticeable by its elegantly contoured watch case. The smooth undulating lines compliment the shape of ones wrist and is readily noticeable as being a timepiece of the highest caliber.
The electric blue of the Richeville Ladies' Watch is on dial and strap where it is made from fine satin. In contrast to the blue is the bezel crafted from 18k yellow gold.

Girard-Perregaux has a long history spanning over 200 years. In 1791 Jean Francois Bautte opens a factory in Geneva which was later sold to a husband and wife team Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux in 1854. Two years later the company changed its name to Girard-Perregaux. It was in 1867, a pocket watch with a tourbillon and three gold bridges was introduced. This concept made its reappearance in 1991, in a wristwatch form.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Definitly whimsical, I would say. The spanking new Tambour Diver Lady by Louis Vuitton. Soft and sensual the new line of Louis Vuitton Diver Lady's watch is a treat to behold. I must say Louis Vuitton has become a cemented figure in the world of horology especially with the unveiling of its first in house movement .

The Tambour Diver Lady is available in 35mm steel or pink gold case. The pink gold case sparkles with a decoration of diamonds. If you wish the Tambour Diver Lady is available with a swiss quartz movement or if you want more prestige you can opt for an automatic movement. The dial too can be ordered to your preference in either the classic Louis Vuitton pattern as depicted above or in pink mother of pearl. The strap is rubber which enhances the functionality and the aesthetics of the piece. Available in pink or white, the textured rubber will provide for a comfortable and non-slip wear. It is quite incredible that material such as rubber has become part of a sophisticated timepiece. The shape is that of the men's Tambour and theTambour Lady Diver is equipped with the same rotation diver's bezel for optimum performance. Although the watch has a muted ladylike look to it, it hides an incredibly functional diver's watch with water resistance up to 300 meters as well as an extra thick sapphire crystal.

Ladies watches geared for sports are becoming increasingly popular. Take for example the new Omega Seamaster for the Ladies, this watch has a helium escape valve which allows for the tiny helium particles to escape from the watch as one rises to the surface after a deep dive. This watch is for the more adventurous and professional diver as it is water resistant up to 600mm, but it lacks the femininity of the Louis Vuitton Watch. Since there are so many choices out there from brand name companies, one can purchase a timepiece specifically suited to ones needs.

About Me

Writing about watches since 2007.
As I held a pocket watch in the palm of my hand, my love for the intricate mechanical craftsmanship turned to an unbridled obsession. Thankfully my training in research methodology has molded my horological passion within the boundaries of scientific exploration.
I also am a regular contributor on aBlogtoWatch.